How is it that just as I am thinking a topic, someone posts a thread about it? I used to sit at my dds ballgames and wish outloud for the other team to drop the ball and sometimes they would. At her last game I started to secretly wish and I am not kidding, like 6 plays I wished on they other team screwed up and our girls scored. When I told the other parents they told me to keep wishing. It was actually kinda weird. So with my chemo, is my mind starting to become magical or something? Hmmmmm Anyhoo, I worked at Macys back in early 90s. I was the pantyhose queen. My coworkers would get mad when a customer would not let them help because they only wanted me because I was so good. Well, except for that one lady who got really mad at me when she did not know what control top was and I was dumbfounded by her lack of ability to comprehend what it was. She asked where HR was because she wanted me fired. I told her where it was but that made her even madder. She actually bought hosiery from me. Crazy. Anyhoo, we had a fitter who was fabulous. My sis went to her and was not thrilled to learn that she was a 32A and not a B. Yes, most women are wearing the wrong bra. I am in a situation now since my lumpectomy. I knew this could happen but now it is bugging me. I think I will go see someone who specializes in this. My lump was removed just about an inch from the cleavage. So my cleavage sticks out less on the right than the left. If it was towards my armpit I could wear a pad on that side to fill the space. But this is on the cleavage side. Not sure if a pad would push me over enough to cause the cleavage to look balanced. Maybe a little pad under the breast would work? Personally it is not a big deal unless I wear a bathing suit maybe. It is just weird when I take off my top and it looks like one side is a little deflated. So off to a fitter I will go. What we go through as women.

Ginger, I'm sitting at the keyboard right now. The underwire on my 34DD meets at the center of my sternum. The outer part of the underwire is in line with the beginning of my underarm. The under wire is very comfortably AROUND my breast. MY "issue" with bras is that they don't allow enough fabric to accomodate the actual roundness of my breasts... often, I have the dreaded "bulge" when I put my arms back... the underwire is fine but the amount of coverage in the front is too skimpy. My favorite bras are by Bali, they're all lace with an underwire. I'm a fit, toned 46 yr. old. And I HATE having to buy something designed for a fat, out of shape matron simply because my "size" dicatates that's the market segment most likely to buy the product. My reports as a wear tester have been directed to these points: NO ELASTIC STRAPS (I need support)! black, navy blue, colors other than WHITE, hooks on the band must reflect the burden of supporting the weight of the breasts... if it takes 3, OK, but don't put on 2 "for looks", thinking they'll be sufficient. Were you successful in your bra making? how did you address the very personal issues of fit and function? where did you find your supplies or did you work for a manufacturer? The bra is the equivilent of a jockstrap. Breasts should be considered "chesticles". And we need to tell manufacturers they aren't getting the job done! (sisterhood arise!)

I was a certified bra fitter at my last job. It was a ladies boutique that specialized in breast prosthesis and bras, and catered to the more than ample sized ladies with a good selection of larger cup sizes. It was a fun job. And at that shop, we always encouraged the ladies to stick with nude for their lingerie. These days I have to go to high end stores or specialty shops to get the size I need. Most stores stop at DDD. My description of my more than ample bosoms now at age 78 is 3 lbs of warm mashed potatoes in 4 lb bags. Knee slappers for sure.

When you say 38" is that the measurement below the bust where the bra band would sit? If so, then to get the proper band size, you need to add 4" so you'd be a 42. If you are 50" across the fullest part, then that's an 8" difference which would make you an H. So generally you would be a 42H. But every bra, even within the same manufacturer, is different so you need to try them on. Important to know is how cup sizes work. If you go down a band size, then, to keep the cup volume the same, you need to go up a cup size. A 34C cup is the same as a 36B cup. To judge how a bra fits, the band should be snug but comfortable. The band should be parallel to the floor when you're standing. If it's rising in the back, it's too loose. If you are getting bulges in the back then the band is too tight. If the cups fit properly, then the bridge ... the bit that's between the cups in the front...should be near the chest wall. If it's not, then you need a larger cup size. If you are bulging out of the cups, you need a larger cup size. If the cups are not smooth and filled but instead have gaps and are baggy, you need a smaller cup size. Final tip, when trying on a bra, bend over from the waist to a flat back so all your tissue falls forward into the cup and adjust the band there. When you stand up, you will know the cups are filled properly. See: https://www.macys.com/p/bra-fit-guide/bra-size-fit-faq/